Shirley M. Westhusin

Shirley Marie (Johnson) Westhusin passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 77. She was born on March 30, 1939 on the family farm just south of Zurich, Kansas to the late Robert and Helen “Violet” (Hinkhouse) Johnson. She grew up in Rooks County, Kansas and graduated from Palco High School in Palco, Kansas with the Class of 1957. On June 12, 1957 she was united in marriage to Ronald E. Westhusin at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Zurich. They were blessed with five children, Mark, Vance, Fred, Terry, and Julie. A full-time farm wife and mother, Shirley loved and raised her family with strong faith and hard work. She was a faithful member of the church, and showed her love through serving and caring for others. To say that she loved baking would be an understatement. Cooking and preparing meals, was not only a daily necessity, but it was truly an act of love, that she took great pride and joy in doing, especially for her family. Shirley is survived by her sons Mark Westhusin and wife Lisa of College Station, TX, Vance Westhusin of Hays, Fred Westhusin and wife Karen of Plainville, and Terry Westhusin of College Station, TX; daughter Julie Downing and husband Michael of Plainville; brother Russell Johnson and wife Evelyn of Fort Dodge, IA; sisters Connie Ferland of Wichita, and Joyce Waldschmidt of Hays; eleven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Violet Johnson, husband Ronald Westhusin, and sister Mary Jane Lang. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 pm on Friday at the church, with Prayer Vigil at 7:00 pm. The Proverbs writer reminds us that a woman of noble character is worth far more than earthly riches; she speaks with wisdom, watches over her family, and her children call her blessed. Shirley was a blessing in her daily life to family and friends alike. A woman of faith, hope, and love, her strength and noble character continually showed us that the greatest of these is love.